The Homeowner Taxpayer Association of Bexar County once generated enough heat to give heartburn to San Antonio elected officials. But it's been a long time since HTA, which was founded in 1983, carried much weight at City Hall or any other government office.

Under the direction of President George H. Rodriguez, the San Antonio Tea Party is launching an effort to play the watchdog role.

HTA President Bob Martin said this week, “We welcome all the help we can get.”

Notably, Martin and Rodriguez crossed paths for the first time at Commissioners Court on Tuesday, where they both spoke about the county's effort to bring a rail system to town.

Rodriguez, who raised concerns about the plan but did not directly oppose it, is likely to be a regular fixture at the new county building and City Hall.

“We're going to have volunteers attend the City Council and Commissioners Court meetings,” Rodriguez said, adding that about 20 people have stepped forward to play a role.

While the tea party is a national movement that has largely been associated with federal issues, Rodriguez said the San Antonio group sees local issues as important, too.

The group had conference calls with U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith and Francisco “Quico” Canseco about the debt ceiling vote. The GOP lawmakers were asked to explain their positions. Organization members are interested in opening similar lines of communication with elected officials in local government.

“We don't want to be seen as obstructionist. We want to be seen as watching out for the pocketbook,” Rodriguez said, adding that his goal is for professional, nonconfrontational advocacy for sound fiscal policy.

Nonconfrontational doesn't mean the group will not push for its views to be heard.

Of course, the group's clout and commitment will be determined over time, and the San Antonio Tea Party is far more complicated than HTA.

Tea party fiscal-conservatives across the nation are largely viewed as a wing of the Republican Party, although the mainstream GOP comes under fire from the groups.